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AV 35
Ohio Penitentiary Salvage Photograph Collection
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Manuscripts/ Audiovisual Collections
AV 35
Ohio Penitentiary Salvage Photograph Collection
1997- 1998
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Number:
AV 35
Title:
Ohio Penitentiary Salvage Photograph Collection
Creator:
Jack Rosenfeld
Dates:
1997- 1998
Media:
Photographs and 35mm negatives
Quantity:
2.33 Cubic Feet
Location:
Ohio Historical Center
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE COLLECTION
In 1832 the state legislature approved the construction of the Ohio Penitentiary at its long- standing location on Spring and Maple Streets in Columbus. Prisoners moved in immediately after the main building, West Hall, was completed in October 1834. It contained 200 cells, the warden's quarters and a guardroom. The guardroom was the entrance to the penitentiary for new inmates and the exit for inmates being released. Just beyond the guardroom was an enclosure known as the ' bull pen' where new prisoners were thoroughly searched.
Between 1834 and 1877 the size of the Ohio Penitentiary was increased to support an expanding prison population. East Hall, with 500 cells, was completed in 1861, just in time to house a large influx of Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Confederate General John Hunt Morgan was imprisoned in and escaped from East Hall in 1863. New Hall was completed in 1877. These three halls formed the impressive 813- foot façade of the penitentiary that faced Spring Street. The Ohio Penitentiary complex expanded to cover 22.5 acres. The prison walls stretched 1450 feet on the east side, 1340 feet on the west side along Neil Ave. ( formerly Dennison Ave.) and 540 feet on the north side along Maple St.
A separate facility for women was constructed in 1837. It was built to house 22 inmates in 11 cells. Eventually, a larger facility for women was built on the southeast corner of the prison grounds. In 1913 female inmates were transferred to the Ohio Reformatory for Women, Marysville, Ohio. The building was later used as a hospital and an honor dormitory for men.

This item is a finding aid or inventory to an Ohio Historical Society collection or series. Finding aids are descriptive access tools that provide more complete information about a collection than you will find in the online catalog record. For more information on the collection and to view its contents, contact the Ohio Historical Society.

AV 35
Ohio Penitentiary Salvage Photograph Collection
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Manuscripts/ Audiovisual Collections
AV 35
Ohio Penitentiary Salvage Photograph Collection
1997- 1998
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Number:
AV 35
Title:
Ohio Penitentiary Salvage Photograph Collection
Creator:
Jack Rosenfeld
Dates:
1997- 1998
Media:
Photographs and 35mm negatives
Quantity:
2.33 Cubic Feet
Location:
Ohio Historical Center
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE COLLECTION
In 1832 the state legislature approved the construction of the Ohio Penitentiary at its long- standing location on Spring and Maple Streets in Columbus. Prisoners moved in immediately after the main building, West Hall, was completed in October 1834. It contained 200 cells, the warden's quarters and a guardroom. The guardroom was the entrance to the penitentiary for new inmates and the exit for inmates being released. Just beyond the guardroom was an enclosure known as the ' bull pen' where new prisoners were thoroughly searched.
Between 1834 and 1877 the size of the Ohio Penitentiary was increased to support an expanding prison population. East Hall, with 500 cells, was completed in 1861, just in time to house a large influx of Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Confederate General John Hunt Morgan was imprisoned in and escaped from East Hall in 1863. New Hall was completed in 1877. These three halls formed the impressive 813- foot façade of the penitentiary that faced Spring Street. The Ohio Penitentiary complex expanded to cover 22.5 acres. The prison walls stretched 1450 feet on the east side, 1340 feet on the west side along Neil Ave. ( formerly Dennison Ave.) and 540 feet on the north side along Maple St.
A separate facility for women was constructed in 1837. It was built to house 22 inmates in 11 cells. Eventually, a larger facility for women was built on the southeast corner of the prison grounds. In 1913 female inmates were transferred to the Ohio Reformatory for Women, Marysville, Ohio. The building was later used as a hospital and an honor dormitory for men.